466 
MENYANTHES* 
Menyanthes (Tourn.) Linn. Gentianaceae (11). 1 sp. M. trifoliata L., 
the buck- or bog-bean, Eur. (incl. Brit.), As., N. Am. It is a bog 
plant with creeping rhizome and alt. leaves. The firs, are dimorphic 
heterostyled (cf. Primula). The rhizome has bitter tonic properties 
and was much used in former times (and is to this day in the Cam- 
bridgeshire fens). 
Menziesia Sm. Ericaceae (1. 2). 7 sp. E. As., N. Am. [M. polifolia 
Juss. of some Brit, floras -=Daboecia polifolia , and M. caerulea Sw.= 
Bryanthus taxifolius .] 
Mercurialis (Tourn.) Linn. Euphorbiaceae (A. 11. 2). 7 sp. Medit., 
Eur., E. As. 2 in Brit., M. perennis L. and M. annua L. (mercury). 
Dioecious anemophilous firs. Vegetative propagation in perennial sp. 
by rhizomes. Corolla absent. Cpls. (2). 
Merendera Ram. Liliaceae (1). 10 sp. Medit. 
Mertensia Roth. Boraginaceae (iv. 4). 15 sp. N. temp. 1 in Brit., 
M. maritima , S. F. Gray (gromwell), on sea-coasts (p. 186). 
Mesembryanthemum Dill, ex Linn. Aizoaceae (11. 3). 300 sp., 
almost all S. Afr. They are xerophytes of the most pronounced kind 
with very succulent leaves, usually closely packed together ; the young 
leaves stand face to face at the growing apex till well grown, and thus 
protect the young bud. In M. obconellum Haw. the pairs of leaves are 
congenitally united into a fleshy body with a little slit in the centre. 
Several sp. have thorns, sometimes flr.-stalks hardened after the fall 
of the fir., sometimes branches, as in M. spinosum L. (the leafy 
branches appear below these in the next year, in the same axils). 
The firs, are usually terminal on the stems, solitary or in dichasia or 
cincinni. The outer sta. (due to branching) are represented by 
numerous petaloid staminodes, having the appearance of a corolla. 
The mature ovary is 5-loc. with parietal placentae; this peculiar 
feature is due to an excessive growth of the peripheral tissue during 
the development, which gradually turns the loculi completely over 
(cf. Punica). The fruit is a capsule which opens only in moist air, 
contrary to the usual wont of capsules (p. 168). Some, e.g. M. edule 
L. (hottentot fig), contain an edible pulp. M. crystallinu?n L. is the 
ice-plant, so-called because its leaves are covered with small glistening 
bladder- shaped hairs. 
Mesospinidium Rchb. f. = Odontoglossum H. B. et K. 
Mespilodaphne Nees = Ocotea Aubl. 
Mespilus (Tourn.) Linn. = Pyrus Tourn. [A/. gerntanica lu. = Pyrus 
germanica ; M. Oxycantha Crantz = Crataegus Oxyacantha. ] 
Mesua Linn. Guttiferae (iv). 3 sp. India, Java. M. ferrea L. (Nagas 
or iron- wood) yields a valuable timber ; its firs, are used in perfumery. 
Metrosideros Banks. Myrtaceae (11. 2). 20 sp. S. Afr., Sunda Is., 
Austr., Polynes. Some sp. furnish useful timber. 
Metroxylon Rottb. Palmae (ill. 5). Siam to New Guinea. M. Rumphii 
Mart, and M. laeve Mart, are the sago palms, cultivated all over the 
